Patented Mar.

20, 1951 2,545,606

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,545,606

METHOD OF COATING WITH PLUTOHUM

ACETYLACETOSATE AND COATED PROD-
UCT
Barrfs B. Crmningham, Chicago, RI., Clifford
Smith, Oakfand, Calii., and Jonathan S. Dixon.
Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignors to the United
States of Ameri= as represented by the United
I States Atomic Energy Commission
No Drawing. Application January 7, 1916,
Serial No. 639,706
8 claims. (CL 117—106)
1 2
This invention relates @ the deposition of thin application of heat and subatmospheric pressure
fflms of plutonium acetylacetonate on metal and and c,mdemsing the vapor on said metal article.
other bases and to an article coated with such 2. The method of coating with plutonium ace,
a nlm. tylacetonate a, metal article nonreactive with said
--- Plutonium acetylacetmate and the manner in 5 plutonium acetylacetonate which comprises vol-
which it is pmxiuced are disclosed in the copend- atilizii~ the plutonium acetylacetanate by heat-
lns joint application of Jonathan S. Dixon, ing it from about 160° C. to 175’ C. while main-
Joseph J. Katz. and Edwin F. Orlemann, Serial taining it in a vacuum of about 10–s millimeters
No.. 565,999. filed November 30, 1944. entitled of mercury, and condensing it. while in said vacu-
‘“Chemical Process and Composition.” !0 um, on said metal article.
In order to coat material. such as metal or 3. The method of coating with plutonium ace-
precordlgurated articles of manufacture, the plu- tylacetonate a metal fofl nonreactive with said
tadum acetylacetonat.e is volatifizerf by heating plutonium acetylacetomte which comprises vol-
it to an elevated temperature. preferably a tem- atilizing the plutonium acetylacetonate by heat-
perature of from 160” C. to 175’ C. in Yacuo. 16 ing it from about 160” C. to 175” C. while main-
preferably at or below about 10-s millimeters of taining it in a vacuum of about 10–3 millimeters
mercury in a suitable apparatus in which the of mercury. and condensing it, while in said vacu-
piece of metal or article to be coated is accom- um, on said metal foil.
modated. the material or article being in chilled 4. The method of coating with plut&ium ace-
condition usually below O’ C. As a result, the 20 tylacetonate a metal article nonreactive with said
plutonium acetylacetonate is condensed on the plutonium acetylacetonate which comprises vol-
surface of the material or article rind forms a atdizing the plutonium acetylacetonate in a high
thin adherent film thereon. degree of subatmospheric pressure by the applica-
Aa one example, about 10 micrograms of plu- tion of heat and condensing the vapor on the
tonium acetylacetonate was heated to from 168” M article.
C. ta 170’ C. for 40 minutes in an apparatus in 5. An article of manufacture comprising a
which a vacuum of about 10–5 millimeters of metal base nonreactive with plutodum acetyl-
mercury was maintained. A piece of metal foil acetonate having thereon a coating of plutmium
having approximately 2 cubic centimeters sur- acetylacetonate.
face area was accommodated in the apparatus 30 6. An article of manufacture comprising a
and cookd by means of a dry Ice-trichlorethy lene metal foil nonreactive with plutonium acetylace-
bath during the forty minute period. AS a result. tmnate said metal foil having thereon a coating
a film of plutonium acetylacetcmate containing of plutonium acetylacetonate.
from 2 per cent to 8 per cent of the amount of BURFLIS B. CUNNINGHAM.
plutonium used was condensed on the metal foil. 35 CLIFFORD SIWTH.
Such coated foils are useful in ion chamtwrs JONATHAN S. DIXON.
and similar devices.
By the method herein described. articles of the REFERENCES CITED
desired material and configuration can be coated The following references are of record in the
with such a fflm. 40 fife of thispatent:
Having thus described the invention, what is
-D STATES PATENTS
claimed fs:
1. The method of coating with plutonium Number Name Date
acetylacetonate a metal article nonreactive with 2,074,281 Sornmer --.------- Mar. 16, 1937
said plutonium acetylncetonate ‘which comprises 45 2.239,770 Becker et al. -------- Apr. 29, 1941
volatilizfnr the dutoniurn acetylacetonatc by the